Bike rack for Mini.

chappers74

Can anyone suggest a bike rack that will fit a Mini Cooper S with the Aero roof spoiler? The spoiler is solid so there are no holes for straps to go through. Below are 2 links to pics of the spoiler.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=107944&d=1136599743

http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=107945&d=1136599842

I'm keen to avoid the roof mounted racks as they're a pain in the ar$e to fit.

rozzer32

I work at the Mini plant in Oxford.

Bike racks can be a right pain in the backside for a mini. The options you have are to use a normal bike rack and put the straps over the top of the spoiler, or go for the bike rack that Mini dealers sell (which will be fckuing expenisve).

Could always try going to halfords and trying different ones and see which fit the best.

Rich Hcp

Roof bars and Thule 591 bike carriers.

Otherwise you risk damaging the car.

You can sell the roof bars when you sell the car ain the future

chappers74

Thanks Rozzer, that's what I feared.

Doesn't then Mini dealer roof rack require holes to be drilled in the roof! :shock:

brin

Why not put the mini in your bikes saddle bag?

or have a look here http://www.saris.com/bike-racks.html

rozzer32

Not sure about the roof having to be drilled, I don't deal with bike racks. I deal with suspension, brakes and chassis.

I know we do a bike rack that fits to mounts that goes through the real bumper. http://accessories.mini.com/internet_relaunch/UK/en/index.jsp

Put in your model on the side and then either roof lsystems or rear luggage systems and it shows you the different racks.

To be honest I would get down to Halfords and try some different racks and see how you get on.

Eddy S

chappers74 wrote:

Thanks Rozzer, that's what I feared.

Doesn't then Mini dealer roof rack require holes to be drilled in the roof! :shock:

It depends which model it is.

On the original (super-charged) model, there are mounting points central on the roof that take roof bars and these effectively have to left permanently fitted once you open up the mounting holes.
http://accessories.mini.com/internet_relaunch/servlet/image.do?imageId=5535187&imageVersion=6

On the re-engineered version (R56) with the turbo engine which carries through to the current face-lifted model, the mounting points are hidden under the rubber on the edge of the roof. You still have to open the holes up but the bars are removable, the holes are covered when the rack is not fitted and the kit comes with covers or bungs for the holes when the rack isn't fitted.
http://accessories.mini.com/internet_relaunch/servlet/image.do?imageId=5536996&imageVersion=6

LangerDan

I saw a bodge some time back for a similar situation with a roof-mounted spoiler. I don't have photos so I'll try to describe what they did:

The spoiler was held on by two pairs of bolts , right and left hand side, through the top of the tailgate. The spolier was removed and a thin metal strip, perhaps 40mm wide and 150mm long (and drilled to match the bolt holes) was installed at each edge, sandwiched between the spoiler and the tailgate. When the spoiler was reinstalled, the end of each strip was visible. Each strip had a transverse slot at the end into which the hook of the bikerack strap could be attached.

When the rack wasn't being used, the strips were short enough not to be obvious or interfere with wiper operation etc.

MattC59

Be careful with the rear mounted rack that Mini produce, it doesn't fit thte mini with the twin central exhausts (Copper S ?). A mate of mine bought one, it wouldn't fit, then the Mini dealership wouldn't let him return it and said he'd have to let them modify the rear of his car so that it would fit........... at a charge of course !!!!!

Eventually he got his money back.

suzyb

Browing ebay I spotted this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/saris-bones-2-cyc ... 1e64dcf8d2

Second pic shows the saris bones on the back of a Cooper S.

chappers74

suzyb wrote:

Browing ebay I spotted this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/saris-bones-2-cyc ... 1e64dcf8d2

Second pic shows the saris bones on the back of a Cooper S.

Thanks Suzy, I've sent a message to the seller - fingers crossed it's the same spoiler!

Thanks also to everyone else for their responses.